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February 14, 2006

Cheney shooting victim suffers heart attack

by Sam Savage

HOUSTON (Reuters) - The Texas lawyer accidentally shot by
Vice President Dick Cheney during a weekend quail hunt suffered
a minor heart attack on Tuesday when some of the birdshot
migrated close to his heart, a hospital spokesman said.

Harry Whittington, 78, has been moved into intensive care
and will have to stay in the Corpus Christi, Texas hospital
where he is being treated for at least another seven days to
monitor his condition, said Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital
spokesman Peter Banko.

Dr. David Blanchard, the hospital's emergency room chief,
said at a news conference Whittington underwent cardiac
catheterization after doctors noted an irregular heartbeat due
to a minor heart attack.

"We are very, very optimistic that with Mr Whittington's
strong heart ... he will do very well," Blanchard said.

Whittington took pellets in his cheek, neck and chest when
Cheney fired his shotgun while aiming for a bird during a hunt
in southern Texas on Saturday, and was taken to hospital in
nearby Corpus Christi.